Northside Health Library

Stroke - risk factors

Alternate Names

Stroke - prevention

What Is a Risk Factor?

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or health problem. Some risk factors for stroke you cannot change. Some you can. Changing the risk factors that you have control over will help you live a longer, healthier life.

Risk Factors You Cannot Change

You CANNOT change these stroke risk factors:

Your age. Risk of stroke goes up with age.

Your gender. Men have a higher risk of getting heart disease than women, except in older adults.

Your genes or race. If your parents had a stroke, you are at higher risk. African-Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans also have a higher risk.

Diseases such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, and some types of arthritis

Blood clots from the heart may travel to the brain and cause a stroke. This may happen in people with man-made or infected heart valves. It may also happen because of a heart defect you were born with.

A very weak heart and some abnormal heartbeats can also cause blood clots.